The lifeblood of the successful DME supplier is to develop relationships with physicians, hospitals, long term care facilities, home health agencies, pharmacies and other providers to ensure a steady stream of referrals. There are innovative arrangements that, if structured properly, are legally acceptable. Examples include a Medical Director Agreement with a physician, loan closet with a hospital, preferred provider agreement with a long-term care facility and/or a hospital, joint venture with a hospital, and sponsoring a physician to present education programs.
In structuring such an arrangement, DME suppliers need to be careful to avoid the federal anti-kickback statute, the federal physician self-referral statute (“Stark”), and other federal and state anti-fraud laws.
This webinar will:
(i) discuss the applicable legal guidance,
(ii) give examples of legally acceptable arrangements with referral sources, and
(iii) give examples of arrangements that need to be avoided.